Daugavpils Shot Factory
Daugavpils Shot Factory
5
About
Being in the remote location of Europe, site has preserved unique evidence of living history of industrial era. It is opened to visitors since late 2012. Factory uses technologies invented in 1782 and you'll have a chance to explore them all. Daugavpils Shot Tower Museum gained prestigious 3rd place award in the European Cultural Tourism network (ECTN) contest “Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism – 2015″ and is highly favored by its guests.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
62 reviews
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Francis D
Montreal, Canada1,807 contributions
Aug 2020
This is a very special place, as there were not so many lead bullet factories in operation in the world... let alone some that are still working the same way as they used to in the 19th century.
The place looks great, feeling very industrial and rustic.
You get to learn all about the process of lead bullet manufacturing... and the process is definitely not what I expected it to be.
The equipment is still working, of course, and you get to see most of the items being turned on and operated for you to better understand it.
Our guide (English tour on 2020-08-21) was awesome. He showed a lot of passion and was very good at getting his interest across. He also was very knowledgeable of the fortress and Daugavpils in general.
With the visit entrance fee (5.50 EUR) is included one (1) shot of a pneumatic gun with bullets manufactured at the factory.
Unfortunately, the person operating the shooting range on the day of our visit was not so kind and friendly. He clearly was not interested in explaining us the shooting process and spent wayyyyyy too much time over the reloading process of the gun. Come on, we are two in your museum and we get one (1) shot included... don't lose us with the details of reloading a gun for 20 minutes. If we are interested in buying more rounds (which is an option for a few EUR extras), then you can spend some time explaining this process to us, with the desired level of detail, as we would have shown interest. Instead, he made us lose ours totally and we shot our shot and left with no intention whatsoever to spend more time with this man. Sadly.
For an extra 1.50 EUR, you can climb the 120 steps to get to the top of the tower to see the melting setup and to have nice views of Daugavpils. If you are fit to climb it, it is worth it, no doubt.
There is only one (1) English tour offered every day, at 13h00. Reservations required. Photographs allowers.
All in all, expect about 2 hours in this place.
The place looks great, feeling very industrial and rustic.
You get to learn all about the process of lead bullet manufacturing... and the process is definitely not what I expected it to be.
The equipment is still working, of course, and you get to see most of the items being turned on and operated for you to better understand it.
Our guide (English tour on 2020-08-21) was awesome. He showed a lot of passion and was very good at getting his interest across. He also was very knowledgeable of the fortress and Daugavpils in general.
With the visit entrance fee (5.50 EUR) is included one (1) shot of a pneumatic gun with bullets manufactured at the factory.
Unfortunately, the person operating the shooting range on the day of our visit was not so kind and friendly. He clearly was not interested in explaining us the shooting process and spent wayyyyyy too much time over the reloading process of the gun. Come on, we are two in your museum and we get one (1) shot included... don't lose us with the details of reloading a gun for 20 minutes. If we are interested in buying more rounds (which is an option for a few EUR extras), then you can spend some time explaining this process to us, with the desired level of detail, as we would have shown interest. Instead, he made us lose ours totally and we shot our shot and left with no intention whatsoever to spend more time with this man. Sadly.
For an extra 1.50 EUR, you can climb the 120 steps to get to the top of the tower to see the melting setup and to have nice views of Daugavpils. If you are fit to climb it, it is worth it, no doubt.
There is only one (1) English tour offered every day, at 13h00. Reservations required. Photographs allowers.
All in all, expect about 2 hours in this place.
Written August 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sara
Riga, Latvia111 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
The guide - Pāvels is genuinely the best tour guide and a fan of this topic, funny, thoughtful and very knowledgeable! You get a lot of information from historical point of view, some insights from Daugavpils and practical demonstrations! Interesting and entertaining for men and women equally. Please visit this unique factory, plus in the end of a tour you can try your luck in shooting! Fun experience.
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daina G
5 contributions
Aug 2017
We were late for the English tour (if you don't speak Latvian, check on the website ENG tour hours prior), nevertheless Pavels accepted to give us a tour. And it was definitely one of the most insightful and interesting tours that we have ever had! Really recommend to do all 3 activities and ask as many questions as possible, because Pavels really has a great amount of crazy stories to tell 👌👌👌
Written August 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MammaZane
Riga, Latvia131 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
We went there because of many good reviews, and we aren't disappointed - interesting, a lot of new information. Boy's especially liked shooting. But be careful with climbing in tower - when I realized that it will be necessary to climb down, I felt fear from what I saw (and children too), because the wall is only on one side, but in the middle - huge 30 m hole! :) Of course, we did it, but it was very scary!
Written April 8, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ieva U
Daugavpils, Latvia1 contribution
Nov 2012 • Friends
Daugavpils shots factory is interesting and amazing place, wich everyone have to see. I get a lot of new information and experience in factory visiting time. Our guide told us about the shots producing process, history of factory and other things.
When you came to this place you can enjoy attractive walk in the past. There you can see old technic, tools.
Shots factory has high tower, we had oppurtunity to climb upstairs to it. Impressing is the well, in wich shots are falling, it is approximately 19 metres deep.
In factory you can improve your shooting skills, because there is shooting range. It was great and funny.
I really enjoyed beeing there and spent great my time :)
When you came to this place you can enjoy attractive walk in the past. There you can see old technic, tools.
Shots factory has high tower, we had oppurtunity to climb upstairs to it. Impressing is the well, in wich shots are falling, it is approximately 19 metres deep.
In factory you can improve your shooting skills, because there is shooting range. It was great and funny.
I really enjoyed beeing there and spent great my time :)
Written March 22, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anete
Jelgava, Latvia23 contributions
Oct 2012 • Family
Daugavpils is so charming with it's culture. You will never see anything like it in other cities and villages in Latvia.
Daugavpils shots factory makes you feel like 100 years ago. It is a good place where to make a horror films. But don't be scared! Guide will walk with you all over the building, and show equipment, shots. You are also able to improve your shooting skills in the shooting range. First I wasn't sure, but after first three shots, I started really enjoying it.
There is also a tower. Guide showed us a scheme, how shots are thrown to a well. I would never guessed that shots are made in way like this!
I suggest everyone to see this place and educate themselves in history of Daugavpils shots factory, and of Latvia.
Daugavpils shots factory makes you feel like 100 years ago. It is a good place where to make a horror films. But don't be scared! Guide will walk with you all over the building, and show equipment, shots. You are also able to improve your shooting skills in the shooting range. First I wasn't sure, but after first three shots, I started really enjoying it.
There is also a tower. Guide showed us a scheme, how shots are thrown to a well. I would never guessed that shots are made in way like this!
I suggest everyone to see this place and educate themselves in history of Daugavpils shots factory, and of Latvia.
Written March 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Junima1951
Wagga Wagga, Australia82 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
Pavele is to be congratulated. The tour he gave us was informative, humerous and fun. Our group contained some English speakers as well as ??? He flipped between languages effortlessly. I was really happy to have taken this tour, despite having not only no interest in shooting, an actual dislike of guns! It was great.
Written September 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald B
The Hague, The Netherlands2,215 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
We enjoyed the interresting excursion on the production of lead bullets in this still working, but soon to be a museum, factory. The guide gave the tour in Latvian and specially for the two of in English. He manager very well to keep the attention of the group by giving clear explanation on the production proces and making occasional jokes. He has really got talent. This excursion is to be recommanded. The factory brings you back in days gone by.
Written July 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Viktorija T
Kaunas, Lithuania42 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
Abosolutely amazing place with extraordinary guide presenting the factory (sorry we didn't ask her name). We were late for guided tour, but friendly girl took us on a short tour and to the top of tower. Girl - YOU WERE AMAZING. That's what happens when people enjoy the job they do. And shooting was kind of relaxation :) Strongly recommended place.
Written August 29, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zippy608
Gold Canyon, AZ2,078 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
The Daugavpils Shots Factory has been around since the late 1800's and was once 1 of the 3 factories that supplied ammo to the entire U.S.S.R. They are still producing ammo these days, but in smaller qualities. The entire tour was quite interesting and we climbed the tower which is quite an experience. You can also go to the shooting range when you are finished. The guide was great.
We e-mailed the factory ahead of time and told them that we needed an English speaking guide and they were thrilled to have us because they said that they do not get too many foreign visitors.
We e-mailed the factory ahead of time and told them that we needed an English speaking guide and they were thrilled to have us because they said that they do not get too many foreign visitors.
Written September 17, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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